About Us

Aldo Jackson, founder of Games Count!, has been fond of board games since early childhood. Over the years, he has gathered together a remarkable collection of games designed in Europe. These games introduce the players to the practical use of a variety of strategies. Some use symbols instead of English texts, and most can be played by beginning English speakers. Aldo successfully runs board game programs at the Downtown Branch of the Berkeley Public Library and in private homes. He is also available to instruct school teachers in the use of European board games to enhance the classroom experience.

Aldo’s assistant, Ann Arnold, is a writer and illustrator of children’s books. Her work includes the illustrations forFanny at Chez Panisseand both text and illustrations for The Adventurous Chef: Alexis Soyer. As the homeschooling mother of an enthusiastic game player, she has played all of the games in the Games Count! collection. The Games Count! CollectionThe Games Count! collection of fluid, interactive games stimulates a child’s curiosity. Children of different ages, backgrounds, and interests discover common ground as they learn to play European board games. The Games Count! collection features games of varying complexity. We begin with two prototypes of the new European board game, Carcassone and Settlers of Catan. Carcassone involves constructing a map to which each child contributes randomly chosen tiles in turn. The children lengthen roads, expand towns into cities, and build cloisters and farms. The players of Settlers of Catan build settlements and cities, using resources they gain for themselves and one another by rolling dice. We play cooperatively, so that trading moves smoothy. Once the children have mastered these two games, they are ready to go on to variants and to other games that employ different rules, tactics, and stratagems.Here is a partial list of the Games Count! collection: Nautilus, La Citta, Siena, Vinci, Dominion, Candamir, Dos Rios, Starfarers of Catan, Settlers of Catan, Oceania, Maharaja, Taj Mahal, Anno 1503, Attika, Long Live the King, Samurai, Princes of the Renaissance, El Grande, Carolus Magnus, Serenissima, Shakespeare, San Juan, Merchants of Amsterdam, Alhambra, Oasis, Magic: The Gathering

Honorable Mentions:Dean Kao, from Eudamonia in Berkeley (www.eudogames.com), who helps provide supplies.My confidential secretary, Friedrich Mangelwurzel (along known as Herr Lehrer). [Being a reclusive soul, and wishing to leave behind his mistakes, he employs a pseudonym]Sally Hessenefle, for bringing me be the support of the Hess, a society who have helped me more than I can imagine.Erica Glenn, who invites us to hold events at the Berkeley Public Library.The many teachers who provide us with opportunities to bring games to children.

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